In anticipation of Paid Leave Oregon, a new paid family leave benefit for Oregon employees, the Oregon legislature recently passed a bill that creates new entitlements for Oregon employees and aligns existing law with the forthcoming paid leave benefit.
Washington State Provides Employers Access to Paid Family and Medical Leave Claim Data
Signed into law by Governor Inslee on May 9, 2023 and effective Jan. 1, 2024, new legislation allows certain interested parties to have access to information from the Washington Security Department, the state agency who administers the paid family and medical leave program, regarding an employee’s leave.
CMS COVID-19 Vaccination, Testing Requirements to Formally End This Summer
The Biden-Harris Administration announced on May 1, 2023, that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would soon be eliminating COVID-19 vaccination requirements for healthcare providers. On May 31, 2023, CMS issued the awaited Final Rule.
Minnesota Legislature Passes Significant Employee Leave Laws
Minnesota is now the 12th state to adopt a statewide program providing compensation to employees during family and medical leaves. It also joined the over 40 state and local jurisdictions mandating employer paid sick leave.
Voting and Sick Leave for Georgia Employees
A new Georgia law takes effect on July 1, 2023 (GA S 129) and provides employees time off to advance vote in primaries and elections. The Georgia legislature, with sign off from Governor Brian Kemp, also recently voted to repeal the sunset provision relating to use of sick leave for care of immediate family members.
DOL Pumps It Up With New Guidance on PUMP Act Enforcement
The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) published Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2023-02 providing guidance to agency officials responsible for enforcement of the “pump at work” provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) including those recently enacted under the 2022 PUMP Act.
Puerto Rico Five-Day Paid Leave for COVID-19 Ends
The governor of Puerto Rico has issued Executive Order No. OE-2023-012, ending the state of emergency declared in 2020 due to the pandemic caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and repealing multiple Executive Orders issued to adopt preventive measures because of COVID-19.
New Executive Order Relieves Federal Contractors From Safer Federal Workforce Requirements
As anticipated, President Joe Biden has rescinded the COVID-19 safety requirements for federal contractors in connection with the declared end of the COVID-19 public health emergency and the World Health Organization determination that COVID-19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
EEOC Revises its COVID-19 Guidance, Again
In response to the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration, the EEOC updated its COVID-19 technical assistance: “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws”.
Maryland Modifies, Delays Implementation of Its Paid Leave Program
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has signed an amendment (Senate Bill 828) modifying the 2022 law that established the state’s paid leave system, the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) Program.
Ending of Federally Mandated COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements and Public Health Emergency
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced that, at the end of the day on May 11, 2023, it will end COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal employees, federal contractors, and international air travelers. The COVID-19 public health emergency also will end on the same day.
Idaho Enacts New Coronavirus Vaccination Law
Under new legislation coined the “Coronavirus Stop Act,” employers doing business in the state of Idaho may no longer require a coronavirus vaccination as a term of employment unless required by federal law or where the terms of employment include travel to foreign jurisdictions requiring vaccination.
Gig Workers Get New Protections in Washington
New laws in Seattle and Washington State allow certain gig workers greater access to traditional employee benefits.
Virginia Law Mandating Unpaid Organ Donor Leave Goes Into Effect July 2023
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed a law on April 12, 2023, mandating employers provide unpaid organ donor leave. When the law goes into effect on July 1, 2023, Virginia will join nearly 20 other states that require employers to provide medical donor leave.
San Francisco Issues Implementation Guidance for Military Leave Pay Protection Act
On Feb. 19, 2023, San Francisco’s Private Sector Military Leave Pay Protection Act took effect. The ordinance requires covered employers to provide supplemental pay to an employee while on leave for military duty for up to 30 days in a calendar year.
Federal Court Strikes Down Amendments to Puerto Rico Employment Law Reform
Less than a year after its enactment, a federal district court has declared null and void Puerto Rico Act 41-2022, a law that rolled back parts of the 2017 employment law reform. Accordingly, the 2017 Puerto Rico employment law reform is back in full force.
Bloomington and St. Paul’s Sick and Safe Time Ordinances Get Updates
Responding to increased attention to worker protections promoting public health and safety, both Bloomington’s and St. Paul’s City Councils recently unanimously approved amendments to their Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) Ordinances.
DOL Issues Guidance on Handling Telework under FLSA, FMLA
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued guidance on the application of the Fair Labor Standards Act and Family and Medical Leave Act to employees who telework from home or from another location away from the employer’s facility.
Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act is Ready for Governor’s Signature
Governor J.B. Pritzker has indicated he intends to sign the Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act that passed both houses of the legislature on Jan. 10, 2023. The Act will entitle covered employees to earn and use up to 40 hours of paid leave in each 12-month period of their employment and go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
San Francisco Passes Ordinance Mandating Paid Military Leave
On Jan. 20, 2023, San Francisco approved the Military Leave Pay Protection Act, which mandates that certain employers must provide paid leave for employees taking leave for military duty. The ordinance takes effect 30 days after passage on Feb. 19, 2023.